Republican Party of New Mexico
The Republican Party of New Mexico is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in New Mexico, headquartered in Albuquerque.[1]
Republican Party of New Mexico | |
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| Chairperson | Steve Pearce |
| Headquarters | 5150-A San Francisco Road NE Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109 |
| Ideology | Conservatism Fiscal conservatism Social conservatism |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| Seats in the Senate | 15 / 42 |
| Seats in the House | 25 / 70 |
| Website | |
| https://newmexico.gop/ | |
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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of New Mexico |
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The party has provided 12 of the 31 Governors of New Mexico, including only three (Susana Martinez, Gary Johnson, and Garrey Carruthers) in the past 40 years. As of 12 October 2010, 32% of New Mexican voters are registered Republicans, compared to 46% registered Democrats.[2]
Early history
Like most other state Republican parties, the Republican Party of New Mexico was founded during the American Civil War Era in the recently acquired Territory of New Mexico. The State of New Mexico was created in 1912. One of the founding fathers of the Republican Party of New Mexico was Thomas B. Catron.[3] At the time of New Mexico's admission to the Union, Catron owned a significant majority of land in the state. Due to that wealth, Catron was influential in shaping the party. Catron served as U.S. Senator from New Mexico from 1912 to 1917.[4]
Pre-primary convention
Every two years, prior to the primary election, the party holds a pre-primary convention. This is where statewide candidates push to receive delegate support before the primary election. If a candidate receives at least 20% of the delegates vote, they are automatically placed on the primary election ballot. However, if a candidate does not receive at least 20% of the delegation vote, they can still get on the ballot by obtaining at least 1,500 signatures of Republicans who had voted in the most recent election within 10 days of the convention.[5]
Current elected officials
The party controls none of the state's seven statewide offices, holds a minority in the New Mexico Senate, and a minority in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Republicans hold one of the state's three U.S. House seats.
U.S. Senate
- None
Both of New Mexico's U.S. Senate seats have been held by Democrats since 2008. Pete Domenici was the last Republican to represent New Mexico in the U.S. Senate. First elected in 1972, Domenici opted to retire instead of seeking a seventh term. Congressman Steve Pearce ran as the Republican nominee in the 2008 election and was subsequently defeated by Democratic challenger Tom Udall who has held the seat since.
U.S. House of Representatives
A Republican holds only one of New Mexico's three congressional districts since 2020.
Statewide offices
- None
New Mexico has not elected any GOP candidates to statewide office since 2014, when Susana Martinez was re-elected as governor. In 2018, term limits prevented Martinez from seeking re-election to a third term. Congressman Steve Pearce ran as the Republican nominee in the 2018 election and was subsequently defeated by Democratic challenger Michelle Lujan Grisham.
List of past chairs
- John Dendahl (1994 – 2003)
- Ramsey Gorham (2003 – 2004)
- Allen Weh (2004 – 2009)
- Harvey Yates (2009 – 2010)
- Monty Newman (2010 – 2012)
- John Billingsley (2012 – 2014)
- Debbie Maestas (2015 – 2016)
- Ryan Cangiolosi (2016 – 2018)
- Steve Pearce (2018 – present)
Gary Johnson 2012 presidential campaign
Former Republican Governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, ran for the party's nomination for president in the 2012 Republican presidential primary. He was governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003.[6] However, poll numbers showed Johnson well behind the other Republican candidates and he was only included in two debates with his opponents. This was partly the reason he switched to the Libertarian Party and continued his presidential run for that party's nomination. He won the nomination by a landslide and went on to win third place in the 2012 presidential election behind 1st-place finisher incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and 2nd-place finisher the (Republican) former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. He won nearly 1% nationwide and slightly above 3% in New Mexico.
References
- "Contact Us." Republican Party of New Mexico. Retrieved on May 13, 2010.
- "Voter Registration Statistics Report" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Mexico. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
- History of the Republican Party in New Mexico, 1867-1952/ by Herbert Hoover. –c. 1
- American National Biography; Duran, Tobias. "Francisco Chavez, Thomas B. Catron, and Organized Political Violence in Santa Fe in the 1890s." New Mexico Historical Review 59 (July 1984): 291-310; Westphall, Victor. Thomas Benton Catron and His Era. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1973.
- {http://newmexicoindependent.com/49619/nmi-to-live-blog-gop-pre-primary-convention}
- http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/about